Rita Ora is in tears as she pays tribute to Liam Payne at MTV EMAs

Rita Ora fought back tears as she paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne at the MTV EMAs in Manchester this weekend.

The singer, who collaborated with Payne on their hit song For youdescribed him as one of the “nicest people” she has ever known with the “biggest heart”, just weeks after his unexpected death, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

Ora hosted the Sunday night event, where her tribute to the late One Direction singer capped off the otherwise upbeat ceremony.

She told the audience at the end, “I just want to take a moment to remember someone who was very, very dear to us. We lost him recently, and he was a huge part of the MTV world and my world, and I I think a lot of you at home and everyone here tonight.”

Just days after Payne’s death on October 16, a video of Ora shortly afterwards went viral as she struggled to get through her performance in Japan.

She broke down on stage during a performance For yousaying, “I can’t even sing this right now,” while a photo of her and Payne was shown on a screen behind her.

Ora even asked the audience to help her finish the song as she was visibly struggling to get the words out.

Payne, who rose to fame as a young teenager with the British boy band, died last month at the age of 31 after falling from the balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

While toxicology reports found a deadly mix of drugs in his system, including ‘pink cocaine’, authorities have since ruled out his death was a suicide.

Last week, three people were charged in connection with his death: one of Payne’s friends, a hotel employee and an alleged drug dealer.

The update came just two days after Argentine police raided the homes of three people while investigating Payne’s death.

The hotel employee and suspected drug dealer were charged with supplying narcotics to Payne, while the friend was charged with “abandonment of a person followed by death.”

The boyfriend, Rogelio “Roger” Nores – who was believed to be Payne’s manager – was accused of abandonment for allegedly leaving the singer’s family behind about his relapse into drug dealing, as reported by La Nacion.

Police are said to have tried to contact the Argentinian businessman after the singer’s death – via a mobile number provided by hotel managers – but he did not respond.

The close friend has since denied leaving Payne before his tragic death, saying: “I never left Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened.

“There were more than fifteen people in the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could never have imagined that something like this would happen. I gave my statement to the prosecutor as a witness on October 17 completed.”

He added: “I am truly heartbroken by this tragedy and I miss my friend every day.”

Payne’s funeral will be a “major affair” taking place in a cathedral “close to his heart”, while the exact date on which it will take place is still unknown.

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